The Goodyear Highway Heroes are coming!

There are hundreds of heroes on our roads. You probably know some of them.

We all share a responsibility to practice safety on our roads. As modern day highway men, the commercial drivers of South Africa are often the first on the scene of a roadside emergency. And often, it’s their prompt action that turns a bad situation around.

That’s why Goodyear, a leader in tyre safety, is launching Highway Heroes, a programme aimed at finding and honouring commercial drivers who go beyond the call of duty to assist strangers in need.

Goodyear is conducting a nationwide search for Highway Heroes, drivers who have set themselves apart through selfless humanitarian acts of rescue and bravery. Nominations will be accepted from peers, the public, transport companies and law enforcement agencies.

At the end of the year, a panel of judges will review the finalists for each quarter, and decide who will be awarded the fortune and fame that goes with the title of Goodyear Highway Hero.

The Goodyear Highway Hero is already recognised as one of the truck and bus industry’s most respected award programmes in places like the United States, Australia, Germany and Latin America. 

According to Goodyear Marketing Director, Dustine Gascoyne, the programme was founded in America in 1983, and long-hauler Ronnie Stapleton was named Goodyear’s first Highway Hero. Ronnie used his bare hands to tear off the back door of a burning car, then broke the vehicle’s back seat in two to save the vehicle’s unconscious occupants.

“Through innovation and technology, Goodyear has made great strides in the field of safety. The launch of the Highway Hero programme in South Africa reflects this important contribution and reinforces Goodyear’s new brand positioning of ‘Safety Together’,” Dustine explained.

 

What makes a Hero?

Potential Highway Heroes must have gone beyond the call of duty by:

1.            Demonstrating extreme bravery and heroism through the rescue of one or                more persons in danger. “Danger” may be described as any life                threatening situation to which the victim was exposed.

2.            Performing an act of extreme humanitarianism. “Humanitarian act” may                be described as any individual act or sustained action that contributes                considerably to the well being or betterment of society, a particular                community or individuals.

 

A Hero’s fame and fortune

At the annual awards evening, the Highway Hero will be awarded with:

1.            R10 000 cash
2.            One all expenses paid trip to the Goodyear Technical Centre in                Luxembourg.
3.            One all expenses paid trip to the Goodyear Technical Centre for one                additional manager or senior representative from the Hero’s company.
4.            Goodyear Highway Hero trophy and certificate.
5.            His or her story published in magazines, inter-company communications                and on posters.

 

Who will crown a Hero?

A judging panel will choose and award the 2009 Highway Hero. The panel consists of:

1.            A Goodyear Director
2.            A truck industry association nominee/s
3.            A media representative
4.            An Automobile Association of South Africa representative